
User Interface or UI design is the thing that makes your website so attractive. The design involves ensuring that the site’s aesthetic is pleasing and that people who visit the site will enjoy their time there. So how much should you charge for UI design?
The Upwork average is between $25 and $45 an hour; this is the freelance rate. Freelance rates can be cheaper than company rates. Freelance work should not be looked down upon because they don’t operate with a firm. Their work is just as good sometimes at a cheaper rate.
Knowing what to charge for UI design is one of the many jobs designers must master while working. By knowing your worth, you can concentrate on the task and not stress how much or how little the client is paying. So read on and learn everything you need to know about what to charge for UI design?
What is UI Design?
There’s a bit of controversy around UI and UX design. People often confuse the terms and use them interchangeably. You should know upfront what UI, User Interface, and design entail. The task is full of mundane changes to perfectly fine bits of the website but must suit the client’s needs and fashion sense.
Some things that are tweaked during User Interface design for a webpage are:
- Fonts – One of the most discussed parts of any webpage or UI build is the fonts. Fonts are what the letter schemes on your pages will look like. Some choices could be too awkward for the page, and others could be against the design plan. Choose something that is easy on the eyes and conveys the company’s brand.
- Colors – The color of the page as the background and tone will be critical to the client. You should give them a few options with solid colors for their branding and are attractive to the eye. Drawing traffic is UI design’s primary goal, and having a good color scheme is a sure-fire way to draw attention.
- Buttons – The types of buttons you have on your page are something else the client will want to see. Showing them several different styles and naming the advantages of each kind will give them some background and allow you to steer them towards what your design instincts tell you is best for the project.
- Graphics – Depending on the page you are creating, the graphics could hold the lion’s share of the real estate. The graphics on the page must be laid out in several different configurations to show the client what you are capable of. Take time and care to listen to the clients and take their suggestions to heart.
- Widgets – Depending on what kind of site you are making, you could have to present the widgets to the client as well. Widgets are programs that will run on the website’s landing page and feature things like the local weather or a live cam to the factory.
User interface is often confused with User Experience. UX is worried about what the user thinks about the site as a whole. Interface work is based on the designer’s taste and their client’s needs for whatever they create. Take time to concentrate on giving the client options for everything, and your judgment will teach you when to take the wheel.
How Designers can Charge for UI Design
There are several ways that a designer can charge for creating UI for a company’s project. Of course, the standard types of payment will still apply but doing a project like a user interface requires that there are several rounds of designs before the site or software goes live.
A few ways that designers can charge for designing a user interface are:
- Monthly – Getting paid monthly is an intelligent way to request payment. Getting paid every month allows you to set rigorous goals and prove to the client that you are completing the work. It also gives the client a hand on the tiller and keeps them feeling involved in the process.
- Per Design – Charging by design is another way designers can work with the client. By going by the design, you get to work elbow-to-elbow with clients and give them the maximum input on your plans. This can be hard on the designer as it could take all creative control from their hands.
- Per Job – Getting paid by the job is how most designers operate. The job could have conditions where there are check-ins to give the client a peek at the progress or to get their input on a critical stage in the build. This provides the designer with the most creative freedom and even a chance to do several designs.
- Daily – Some companies will hire a UI designer for a day. These are usually freelance jobs for last-second pieces they need right away. These daily jobs are not on the high end of the pay scale but could be perfect for young designers looking to make their name.
The ways that a designer can choose to get paid for jobs is one of those things that can always change. However, the flexibility in the payment scale should not affect what you make for the job or per hour. These are just ways to keep the client informed on what is happening with their project and get their input when needed.
Conclusion
User interface design is a long job for a designer. The options they provide to the clients will be the backbone of their project. These options range from color schemes to weather widgets that could let a traveler get a peek at the weather before their trip. They must work closely with the clients to get their input translated into the UI design.
There are a few different ways a designer can take payment from their clients, and they should experiment with them all to see which works best. They should concentrate on the end goal of their work and understand that money will come as long as their designs are excellent.